Paliakkara toll collection on hold

KOCHI: The state government has decided to put on hold the toll collection at Paliakkara on the Mannuthy-Edappally stretch of the National Highway 47.The decision was taken at a meeting convened by the Chief Minister in Kochi on Saturday.  Minister for Public Works V K Ebrahim Kunhu, Thrissur District Collector P M Francis, District Panchayat President K V Dasan, representatives of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) and various organisations were present at the meeting.Oommen Chandy has asked NH Chief Engineer C Joseph Mathew to submit a report within two weeks on whether the NHAI had carried out work  in accordance with the agreement. The report should include the construction of service roads, placing signals, underpass and bus bays. Toll collection would be put on hold till the completion of all requirements, Chandy Said.“Four-lane roads are implemented based on the state support agreement. So the Central and State governments step back completely on it’s decision to collect toll. However, the government will try to reduce the problems faced by the people of Puthukkad (where the toll gate is installed). The government is also thinking of introducing discounted rates on the lines of the Ernakulam model,” Chandy said.B D Devassy MLA said that the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model was not practical in the state. All vehicles using the Mannuthy-Edappally stretch of the highway, except two-wheelers and autorickshaws, would have to pay toll. Puthukkad MLA C Ravindranath urged the chief minister to exempt the residents of Puthukkad constituency from the toll.Meanwhile, the Samara Samithi leaders have warned that it would prevent any attempt to collect toll from motorists. CPI(ML) secretary P N Provind alleged that the NHAI authorities were favouring the contractors who carried out the work.The samara samithi leaders also brought to the chief minister’s attention the issue of compensation for the destruction caused to the toll plaza in agitations last week. The police had asked the agitators to pay Rs 2 lakh by way of compensation. Chandy directed the police to reduce the amount to Rs 10,000.